Ever buy a used tractor sight unseen?

[TigerfaninAR]

As I've posted here before looking at a few B7100s locally. Both have the 60 in bellymowers and can be had for prices between 4200 and 5000. As I widen the search, I find a B7500, tractor only, for 5K about 3.5 hours away. Even further is a B2400 with bellymower for 5K, about 8 hours away. Both of these 2 have under a thousand hours.

Anyone ever taken the leap and bought online (ebay), the B2400, without first driving the tractor? For more tractor the B2400 seems like much the better deal. This thinking too risky? The B7500 is on TH, but would hate to borrow a trailer, drive down there and not make a deal. The B2400 would make a long day to go get unless I have it shipped. Guess that would be another post on how and best way to do that.


Frustrated!:confused2:

 

[Thomas]

I like face to face w/equipment also test spin..something about gut feeling.

 

[crbr]

As I've posted here before looking at a few B7100s locally. Both have the 60 in bellymowers and can be had for prices between 4200 and 5000. As I widen the search, I find a B7500, tractor only, for 5K about 3.5 hours away. Even further is a B2400 with bellymower for 5K, about 8 hours away. Both of these 2 have under a thousand hours.

Anyone ever taken the leap and bought online (ebay), the B2400, without first driving the tractor? For more tractor the B2400 seems like much the better deal. This thinking too risky? The B7500 is on TH, but would hate to borrow a trailer, drive down there and not make a deal. The B2400 would make a long day to go get unless I have it shipped. Guess that would be another post on how and best way to do that.


Frustrated!:confused2:

I would not. Three and one half hours is not a bad drive to look. Eight hours is another story.

My contenton would be this.. call the person, ask straight up what condition and what detrimental flaws exist (if any). Take his word but hold him to the fire when you get there. Look it over, test use it and be satisfied with it before you take it home. After that, it's your responsibility. Honesty and straight forward is the best policy. Hopefully he will be honest upon your straight forward. All part of the risk of taking the drive.

My personal opinion of ebay is better left unspoken.

$0.02

.

 

[brin]

Just my opinion but I have to believe if any of us ever buy a tractor sight unseen, one thing we can be sure of it there is someone else that is laughing... 2 cents.

 

[TripleR]

Never have and never will.

When buying new trucks/cars I have found a difference in new vehicles of the same make, model and year.

 

[herd]

I like face to face w/equipment also test spin..something about gut feeling.

I have, last year, I bought a JD 5203 from Nathan Gamble at Green South. I found the unit on ebay, I think, but I did get several pictures, tractor had 137 hours and look immaculate. I then call and talk with him several times.

I have been very pleased with the unit, no disappointments at all.

 

[rbargeron]

.......Anyone ever taken the leap and bought online (ebay).......without first driving the tractor? .........

Yes, but not without some pictures. It works best if you are already familiar with the unit so you know what to look for. Mine was on eBay and 600 miles away - I asked the seller for pictures, random close-ups, so I could "see" things like leaks, evidence of weld repairs, etc. I knew the tractor model so I asked some very specific questions about how it started, pto clutch function, appearance of oil on the dipsticks, a picture of the air filter elements pulled out. The seller cooperated and I bid including a risk margin for unknowns. It was the winning bid. An electrical gremlin was missed but overall it turned out to be a good deal on a hard-to-find unit. Used the Haul Schedule at Yesterday's Tractor to get it delivered.

 

[thunderworks]

I bought my L5030 sight unseen. It was on ebay, but didn't make the reserve. I called the seller and worked out a deal. The seller was a Kubota dealer and we agreed that if I was unsatisfied when the unit was delivered (about 400 miles), that I would only owe the delivery charge. He would load the tractor up and take it home if I didn't like it. He delivered without payment up front - only the delivery charge was up front. The tractor I bought had about 850 hours on it and the ebay listing had a bunch of pictures. My transaction was painless and I have never regretted it. Great machine. Straightforward transaction.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I've bought a lot of things off Ebay. I did buy a car one time, a 90 Cadillac Allante. I agreed to pay an extra couple hundred dollars if the seller would bring it half way and meet me south of Columbus, Oh. I figured if he drove it that far it would be OK to drive it the rest of the way. I arrived at the delivery point to see him unloading it off a trailer but I drove it home with no problem. I assumed he would drive it but he never said that's how he would get it there. Over the years I've learned what to look for and to look for what's missing in a description of an item for sale and what questions I want answered. I'm always glad that there are people that never buy off Ebay, it helps keep prices down and helps me find bargains. I buy stuff and then get tired of it or my needs or interests change so I sell or trade it and it has nothing to do with the product being bad, I know there are others like me so I try to find them when I'm hunting something. All this said, I'd not pay it all up front, I'd make final payment at delivery and try to get them to meet me some where so they will not want to turn around and take it back if it hasn't lived up to their description. People sell stuff, Ebay is an easy place to reach a hugh market and thousands of items a day are bought and sold there. It's not going away, it's part of the brave new world. Fight it or embrace it, it's going to happen no matter which one we do.

 

[Tom_H]

Well, if it came with a mechanic's affidavit of approved inspection and the price was a dollar, I would. Otherwise, I'd likely pass.

Seriously, like John, I buy eBay stuff. Some is quality, some is not. But, none of it is thousands of dollars either.